Sydney United 58 return to the winner’s circle
Sydney United 58 have once again felt that winning feeling after defeating a heroic Sutherland Sharks outfit 2-1 at the Sydney United Sports Centre on Sunday in what was a much-needed win for 2022 Australia Cup finalists.
The tension between both clubs was seen from the opening kick-off, which accumulated in Patrick Antelmi earning an early booking. Despite using their physicality to win the ball, neither could create any major chances, as the game was mainly played in the midfield.
That was until the 18th minute when Andreas Agamemnonos found Antelmi in clear space with a brilliant through ball, but Sutherland skipper Mitchell Stamatellis had other ideas.
Leading by example, the captain delivered an important challenge halting the United attack. This would allow the away side to mould an attack of their own.
Less than 30 seconds later, Jay McGowan flew through the left sideline. Attempting to break the deadlock, his shot went wayward.
However, it surprisingly found the deflection of a roaming Jesse Photi. Unfortunately, Photi couldn’t connect with it cleanly, allowing Danijel Nizic to make an easy save.
Nizic would show his goalkeeping prowess again five minutes later, providing a two-handed save to Hamish Lamberton’s on-target shot off a direct counter-attack.
Trading chances with one another, it was United’s turn to try and get on the scoresheet first in the 34th minute.
After the ball found Adrian Vlastelica in the box, the captain showed composure getting into a bit of free space but dragged it left of the net.
Looking more dangerous and controlling the majority of possession, the home team had back-to-back chances with Glen Trifiro. The latter would open the score in the 44th minute.
The free-kick specialist had no trouble scoring from the edge of the box. Triffiro drove the ball under the wall, towards the other side hitting the side-post before finally going into the goal.
It was the perfect first-half ending for Sydney United 58 in front of their home fans after controlling the majority of the opening 45 minutes.
Straight out of the halftime break, United came close to double their score through Patrick Antelmi. Finding free space, the forward made a late run towards the top of the box but failed to control his shot accuracy- despite getting the right amount of power on the ball.
Despite the early chance to United, the away side looked the better team to get the second half underway, with the combination between Photi and McGowan proving lethal.
Jesse Photi managed to evade a couple of defenders, creating space for his teammate. This allowed the promising Jay McGowan to attempt a shot but was once again stopped by Nizic.
As the clubs decided to bring on substitutions, their styles of play differed from one another. Already ahead, United decided to take their time with the ball, while Sutherland had a more attacking mindset, aiming to re-enter the game.
One of the many substitutions, Devante Clut would gain the next significant chance of the game. Entering the game for Agamemnonos, he made a great connection with the ball from far out, but it went straight into the hands of Sutherland’s keeper Marko Bulic.
For the next ten minutes, it was all Sutherland as they aimed to get back into the game. They were successful in doing so, scoring a goal through Luke Sauer in the 82nd minute.
The ball fell to Sauer after a deflected free-kick from Chris Lindsay and the Sharks attacker tucked home his first goal for the year.
The Sharks celebration didn’t last too long.
Following Sutherland’s equaliser in the 82nd minute, the game was destined to be a thriller.
The away side conceded a penalty minutes after giving away possession after their first goal.
While Chris Payne had the chance to cement the game from the penalty spot, Marko Bulic walked away as the hero. The Sutherland goalkeeper saved the penalty kick without hesitation getting his hands to the ball.
However, his heroics weren’t enough to stop Sydney United 58 for recording a much needed win.
The home team launched an all-out attack for the next few minutes, which ended with Alessandro Lacalandra cementing the game with a goal, his first for the senior side, in the 90th minute, shattering Sutherland’s hearts to earn a point.
Sydney United 58 FC coach Miro Vlastelica was one relieved man following the full-time whistle as his troops picked up the much needed points.
“We’ve been down on confidence for a bit now…we went out and changed the way we played a little and in the end I thought we did deserve (the win). We controlled the game for good periods but at the end of the day it’s about getting bodies back on the park,” he said
“At half-time we talked and needed to put more pressure on their centre backs…so we tried to adjust.
“We created a few chances, we got a penalty that dropped but it didn’t phase the boys (when they scored). We kept the pressure on and scored that second goal.
“That’s Sydney United. We don’t stop.”
Match Stats
Sydney United 58 FC 2 (Trifiro 44’ Lacalandra 90’)
Sutherland Sharks FC 1 (Sauer 82’)
Sunday 9th July 2023
Sydney United Sports Centre, Edensor Park
Referee: Kurt Ams
Assistant Referees: Patrick Teleki and Cameron Wright
Fourth Official: Liam Smith
Sydney United 58 FC: 1. Danijel Nizic (GK) 2. Cristian Gonzalez (17. Matthew Bilic 80’) 3. Bailey Rule (7. Taisei Kaneko 66’) 4. Adrian Vlastelica (C) 5. Anthony Tomelic 6. Christopher Payne 9. Patrick Antelmi (13. Alessandro Lacalandra 72’) 12. Hiyori Kawaguchi 14. Andreas Agamemnonos (10. Devante Clut 66’) 16. Ante Bakmaz 18. Glen Trifiro (11. Yianni Perkatis 66’)
Substitutions Not Used: 20. Luke Cukar (GK)
Yellow Cards: Antelmi 8’ Agamemnonos 22’ Payne 36’ Vlastelica 74’ Perkatis 79’
Red Cards: Nil
Sutherland Sharks FC: 1. Marko Bulic (GK) 2. Takahide Umebachi 4. Mitchell Stamatellis (c) 5. Jesse Photi 6. Brodie Clarkson (8. Alexander Brown 61’) 7. Jay McGowan (91. Jonty Busch 73’) 9. Hamish Lamberton (3. Jordan Roberts 61’) 10. Antonis Martis (21. Luke Sauer 61’) 11. Fumoti Kamada 15. Nathan Grimaldi 25. Oliver Randazzo (14. Chris Lindsay 66’)
Substitutes Not Used: 29. Samuel Smith (GK)
Yellow Cards: McGowan 31’
Red Cards: Nil
Player Ratings:
3- Marko Bulic (Sutherland Sharks FC)
2- Danijel Nizic (Sydney United 58 FC)
1- Glenn Trifiro (Sydney United 58 FC)
By Ethan Lee Chalk (Twitter- @EthanLeeChalk)
